Thursday, May 29, 2014

Professor Kevin Sweeney’s talk examined the origins of the Second Amendment in light of both the possession and use of firearms in colonial America and of on-going efforts during the late 1700s to reorganize and re-arm state militias. Even though the ownership of firearms was widespread, political leaders debated how best to insure militiamen had the right kind of firearm and the necessary training to use it. The Federalists who shaped the Second Amendment were more concerned about securing muskets to insure the nation's defense than in protecting an individual's right to own a hand gun for self-defense.

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